Pierre Turgeon

Early Years

Turgeon was a member of Canada's team that was involved in the Punch-up in Piestany, a bench-clearing brawl between Canada and the Soviet Union, during the final game of the 1987 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships in Piešťany, Czechoslovakia (Slovakia) on January 4, 1987. He was the only player to remain on the bench while his countrymen fought the Soviets.

Turgeon was drafted by the Buffalo Sabres as the 1st overall pick in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Rick Jeanneret, play-by-play announcer for the Sabres, coined the phrase "Ooh-la-la Pierre" for Pierre Turgeon.

Turgeon would quickly make an impact with the Sabres once he arrived. In his rookie season, he contributed a respectable 42 points (14 goals, 28 assists) during the 1987–88 NHL season helping the Sabres reach the playoffs for the first time in three years. His production increased to 88 points (34 goals, 54 assists) for the 1988–89 NHL season as he quickly became a fan favorite. In the 1989–90 NHL season, he became a star by scoring 106 points (40 goals, 66 assists) and playing in the 1990 NHL All-Star Game. Turgeon's production dipped a little bit in the 1990–91 NHL season to 79 points (32 goals, 47 assists), but he was still a solid performer.

New York Islanders

After four plus years with the Sabres, Turgeon was traded on October 25, 1991, along with Benoît Hogue, Uwe Krupp and Dave McLlwain, to the New York Islanders for Pat LaFontaine, Randy Wood, Randy Hillier, and future considerations. Turgeon's best season as an Islander was the 1992–93 season, where he scored 58 goals and 132 points and helped lead the Islanders to the Wales Conference Finals where they would lose to eventual Stanley Cup Champion Montreal Canadiens in five games. Along the way, the Islanders defeated the Washington Capitals and upset the two time defending Stanley Cup champions Pittsburgh Penguins.

The first round series, which the Islanders won in six games, is infamous for an on-ice incident. After scoring a series-clinching goal during game six at Nassau Coliseum, Turgeon was checked from behind by Dale Hunter of the Capitals as he celebrated his goal. Turgeon suffered a separated shoulder and missed the ensuing series against the Penguins. Hunter received a then-record 21 game suspension for the hit. Turgeon returned for the semi-finals against the Montreal Canadiens after missing seven games. The Islanders bowed out of the playoffs after a hard-fought five game series, two of which went to overtime. After beating the Isles, the Canadiens went on to win the Stanley Cup.

As an Islander, Turgeon was awarded the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in the 1992–93 NHL season.

Montreal Canadiens

During the failed 1994–95 season, General Manager Don Maloney decided to rebuild the team, which included trading Turgeon and Vladimir Malakhov to the Montreal Canadiens for Kirk Muller, Mathieu Schneider and Craig Darby. He would be named captain of the Canadiens for the 1995–96 NHL season after the departure of Mike Keane to the Colorado Avalanche in December 1995. During the 1995–96 season, Turgeon would nearly put up a 100-point season with 38 goals, 58 assists totaling 96 points & playing in the 1996 NHL All-Star Game.

Years in St. Louis

He was traded by Montreal to the St. Louis Blues with Rory Fitzpatrick and Craig Conroy for Murray Baron, Shayne Corson, and a fifth round selection in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft on October 29, 1996. He spent the next 5 seasons in St. Louis producing well as usual playing with the likes of Brett Hull, Chris Pronger, Al MacInnis and Grant Fuhr.

Dallas Stars/Colorado Avalanche

He joined the Dallas Stars as a free agent on July 1, 2001, and then the Colorado Avalanche as a free agent on August 3, 2005. Turgeon took a year off during the 2004–05 lockout. Upon signing with the Avalanche, Turgeon switched his jersey number to #87 from his customary #77, as the number was retired for Raymond Bourque.

On November 8, 2005, Turgeon became the 34th player in NHL history to score 500 goals. He scored against the San Jose Sharks.

On September 5, 2007, Turgeon announced his retirement from the NHL.

Coaching career

On July 10, 2017, Turgeon was named as assistant coach of the Los Angeles Kings.

Turgeon, the racehorse

George W. Strawbridge, Jr., an active shareholder of the Buffalo Sabres and director and member of the team's executive committee for more than 30 years, named one of his thoroughbred racehorses in Pierre Turgeon's honor. Turgeon raced for Strawbridge's racing stable in France where he won several conditions races and, after retiring, is developing into a successful sire. [1] [2]

Personal life

Turgeon and his wife Elisabeth have four children and currently live in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. One of their children, Elizabeth, died in a car accident on December 23, 2010, near Vaughn, New Mexico, at age 18. Turgeon represented Canada in the Little League World Series in 1982. Turgeon's son Dominic was drafted 63rd overall by the Detroit Red Wings in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Awards